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Symptoms & Sensitivity

Skin temperature increase caused by a mobile phone: A methodological infrared camera study

No Effects Found

Straume A, Oftedal G, Johnsson A · 2005

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Phone-induced skin heating comes from the device's physical presence and electrical components, not from radio frequency radiation itself.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Norwegian researchers used infrared cameras to measure skin temperature changes when a volunteer held a mobile phone for up to 30 minutes. They found that the phone's physical presence and electrical heating caused statistically significant temperature increases, but the radio frequency radiation itself did not contribute to skin warming. This suggests that the "hot ear" sensation many phone users experience comes from the device's physical properties rather than its electromagnetic emissions.

Study Details

Mobile phone users often complain about burning sensations or a heating of the ear region. The increase in temperature may be due to thermal insulation by the phone, heating of the mobile phone resulting from its electrical power dissipation, and radio frequency (RF) exposure. The main objective of this study was to use infrared (IR) camera techniques to find how much each of these factors contributes to the increase in skin temperature resulting from the use of one GSM 900 phone.

One subject, a healthy male, took part in the study. He was holding the phone in a normal position w...

Cite This Study
Straume A, Oftedal G, Johnsson A (2005). Skin temperature increase caused by a mobile phone: A methodological infrared camera study Bioelectromagnetics. 26(6):510-519, 2005. .
Show BibTeX
@article{a_2005_skin_temperature_increase_caused_3425,
  author = {Straume A and Oftedal G and Johnsson A},
  title = {Skin temperature increase caused by a mobile phone: A methodological infrared camera study},
  year = {2005},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15931679/},
}
PubMed: 15931679

Cited By (69 papers)

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Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, but not from radiation. A 2005 Norwegian study found that phones make your ear feel hot due to the device's physical warmth and electrical heating, not from radio frequency emissions. The electromagnetic radiation itself didn't contribute to skin temperature increases.
No, phone radiation doesn't heat your skin. Norwegian researchers using infrared cameras found that mobile phone RF radiation caused no significant skin temperature changes. The warming sensation comes from the phone's physical presence and internal electrical heating instead.
The hot ear sensation isn't from dangerous radiation exposure. Research shows this warming comes from your phone's physical heat and electrical components, not electromagnetic emissions. The RF radiation itself doesn't contribute to the temperature increase you feel.
Your phone warms your ear through physical contact and electrical heating, not radiation. A methodological study using infrared cameras confirmed that mobile phone RF emissions don't cause skin warming. The heat comes from the device's internal components and materials.
No, mobile phone EMF doesn't increase skin temperature. Norwegian scientists measured skin temperature changes with infrared cameras and found no contribution from radio frequency radiation. Phone warming comes from the device's physical properties and electrical heating instead.